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Crystal Palace Football Club – Foundation Academy

Young people with an ambition to train as professional footballers now have the chance to combine their sport with a full-time college course. Northampton College has teamed up with the Foundation Academy of Premier League Crystal Palace Football Club to deliver football training at its Booth Lane campus for students aged 16-18.

Students will benefit from coaching by professionals, in a programme led by former Crystal Palace and Northampton Town player, Eddie McGoldrick, who also played for the Republic of Ireland on the international stage.

How much football coaching is included?

The programme includes two hours of football coaching per day by UEFA-licensed coaches, Students will train during the morning and afternoon and coaching sessions will be based on four modules; technical, tactical, physical and psychological.

Students will also have the opportunity to play in national youth football leagues with Premier League clubs including Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United and Liverpool.

What programme of study could I follow?

Football coaching is combined with a study programme and all students must follow a full-time course, selected from the College’s extensive curriculum offer. This could be based on A Levels or technical and professional subjects, enabling you to study while you play, and secure qualifications that could lead to higher education or an apprenticeship. The study programme will include maths and English qualifications, for those that need them, as well as employability skills and work experience.

How many places are available at the Football Academy?

The Academy has places for around 80 students, both male and female. The Foundation Academy is actively looking for girls to join the programme and participate in the National Football Youth League (NFYL).

What could I do next?

You will have the opportunity to progress from your starting point on the study programme up to Level 3 and beyond. Successful achievement of Level 3 qualifications (for example, A Levels or BTEC Diploma in Sport) could lead to higher education. Apprenticeships may be available for those who prefer to enter employment and earn while they learn.

Players also have the chance to gain selection for Crystal Palace’s main youth academy in South East London through the Foundation Academy with Northampton College.

Former Academy students have become trialists for several professional football clubs, or won scholarships for further training in the USA.

How can I apply for a place?

Open trials for the Foundation Academy take place on 13 and 14 February 2018 at the College’s Booth Lane campus. Please click here to register your interest or call 0300 123 2344 for more information.

As members of TWI, you can be sure that our fully-trained tutors, facilities, equipment and teaching materials meet the standards required by the CSWTO. Our welding engineers are qualified to work according to the main international welding standards.

We can provide training and accreditation if you work in any of the following roles:

• Fitter Welder

• Pipe Fitter

• Maintenance Welding Operative

• Sheet Metal Worker

• Plater Fabricator

• Welder.

Our training is delivered in accordance with BSEN 6947 to the following welding standards:

• BSEN 287

• BSEN 9606

• ASME 1X

• BSEN 4872.

All weld testing is underwritten by TWI and the independent testing service UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service).

We also offer training under the Certification Scheme for Welding Inspection Personnel (CSWIP) if your goal is to qualify a Visual Welding Inspector. No specific experience is required but it is recommended that candidates possess a minimum of six months' welding-related engineering experience and two years' industrial experience.

This qualification is suitable for:

• Welders

• Operators

• Line inspectors

• Foremen who undertake visual examination of welded joints

• Quality control staff associated with welding

• Staff who need basic training in welding inspection coupled with a qualification in this field.

Click here for the detailed course descriptor.

Contact us for more information on our welding programmes through our Active College Training and Information System on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Advanced Learner Loan prize draw – terms and conditions

This promotion is open to Adult Learner Loan students of Northampton College excluding employees of Northampton College and their families and its agents or anyone professionally connected with the promotion.

How to enter: No purchase necessary. Complete the Adult Learner Loan survey by Friday 15 December 2017 and you will be automatically entered into the promotion. One entry per person only.

The prize is a set of Apple AirPods in white. The winner will be drawn at random under independent supervision and will be contacted by email/telephone on Monday 18 December 2017.

In the event the claim for the prize is not received by Northampton College within 28 days of prize notification, Northampton College reserves the right to withdraw prize entitlement and award the prizes to a reserve selected at the same time as the original.

The prize will need to be collected in person from Northampton College, Booth Lane, Northampton NN3 3RF.

There are no cash or other prize alternatives available in whole or in part except in the event of circumstances outside its reasonable control, Northampton College reserves the right to substitute an alternative of equal or greater value. Unless otherwise agreed in writing by Northampton College, the winner is not allowed to transfer the right to take up the prize to anyone else.

Northampton College reserves the right to verify the winner and withdraw prize entitlement or refuse to award the prize where there is, or Northampton College has reason to believe there is, or has been, a breach of these terms and conditions including multiple entry or the spirit of the promotion has been compromised.

The winner agrees to reasonable post event publicity by the promoter with no further recompense.

Any question concerning the legal interpretation of these terms & conditions will be based on English law and the Courts of England and Wales will have exclusive jurisdiction.

Promoter: Northampton College Booth Lane, Northampton NN3 3RF.

Life Changing Films

Take a look behind the scenes of our life changing films and discover the real student stories that inspired us to re-create their life changing moments.

DaveDave left education at the age of 16 to look after his mum, brother and grandad. This meant that when he was finally able to start his A Level programme at Northampton College he was older than his fellow students. He also had to deal with some serious health issues of his own, which caused him to miss a lot of his studies. However, through hard work and dedication Dave succeeded in catching up and was a model student.

Unfortunately, Dave's grandad died the same week as his final exams which was obviously a very difficult time for him. Despite this, he achieved the grades he needed in chemistry, biology and business studies to secure a place at the University of Brighton to study Pharmaceutical and Chemical Sciences.

Dave aims to pursue a career in pharmaceutical research and feels that he has plenty of options open to him now that he has finally got his life on track.

NickNick is hard of hearing, but this never stopped him from fully engaging with staff and his peers at college or pursuing his dream career. Nick has always had a passion for journalism and despite the setback of his local newspaper closing down, Nick's determination and drive has meant that he now works in London as a reporter for the Daily Star.

Nick hopes to become the editor of his own publication one day and says he loves what he does every day.

MatthewEngineering student Matthew is in pole position for an exciting career in the world of Formula 1 after landing an Apprenticeship with world champions Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains (HPP).

Matthew was a hugely dedicated student, always arriving in college well before his peers each morning and staying on after hours to complete his portfolio.

He was one of just seven apprentices selected by Mercedes from over 500 applicants. By the end of his Apprenticeship he hopes to be working on components used in the power units of cars driven by Grand Prix stars such as Lewis Hamilton.

AmeliaAmelia became one of Northamptonshire's youngest Special Constables at the age of 19. She finished an intense three-month training programme with Northamptonshire Police, which she completed alongside her full-time course at Northampton College. Amelia has said her main focus is to help the local community and has volunteered for hundreds of hours in her role as a special constable.

Amelia would like to work for the police force full-time in the future.

JosiahJosiah was shy and reserved when he first started his acting course at Northampton College, however through support and encouragement from his tutors and his own determination to succeed, Josiah has now built his confidence enough to take on lead roles in college performances.

Josiah hopes to go to university to study acting and eventually perform on the stage.

Turn your dreams into a reality with a life changing course at Northampton College!Click here to book on to one of our advice and gudance sessions.